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Atkinson defends right to offend
Rowan Atkinson defended the right of comedians to poke fun at other people's religion last night as he joined the campaign against Government plans to create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred.The star of the BBC's Blackadder television series lined up with leading barristers, writers and politicians to oppose the proposed law. 'There should be no subject about which you cannot make jokes' Ministers say the Bill will protect faith groups - particularly Muslims. Under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, which will have its second reading in the Commons today, anyone judged to have stirred up religious hatred through threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, would be liable to a maximum of seven years in prison. But opponents of the measure say that while it is well intentioned, stopping the right to criticise other religions would end centuries of tolerance and could stoke tensions between religious groups rather than ease them. Speaking at a press conference in the House of Commons, Atkinson said the proposals would destroy one of society's fundamental freedoms - the right to cause offence. Posted by: tipper 2004-12-06 |
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